My premise is this: the Daily Mail has got its health headline priorities the wrong was around today (ok - no big shock - but it's significant). It's put the long-term-maybe ahead of the immediate-for-certain. Genes trump Geriatrics. But whilst I am passionate about greater engagement of the public with science and want more mainstream coverage of research, I am also horrified about the way we are treating our elderly.
The main splash is about a 'Giant leap in Alzheimers fight that COULD spare 100,000 sufferers every year'. Three new genes have been identified with Alzheimers, which is great, but without going into detail, this still means practically that there are (probably) many more genes to find and even when we do, genetic based testing, prevention and /or treating are still decades away. I am a sincere advocate of much more research into dementia, it's been grossly underfunded considering the rising prevalence.
But the subheading is about the certainty that home care that WILL be withdrawn from the elderly this winter. By next year the percentage of elderly classified as having 'moderate' homecare needs and getting free help from social services will have dropped from 31% to 14%. I have sat in the lounge of elderly people who have wept openly before me as they show me letters of having care withdrawn. Practically for them this could mean less fresh food or no bath or sitting in the same chair all day (and being forced to wear incontinence pads). They seem to always be the easy target for cuts, behind closed doors and loathe to complain.
What is a possible breakthrough of science has trumped in our headlines a certain, tragic breakdown of society. It reflects a shocking lack of compassion for those who have gone before us. The solutions are multiple - everything from encouraging through our culture a higher regard for the elderly to ensuring social service resources are prioritised on the most vulnerable (children and elderly) first. Think of the irony - we find a cure for dementia but have meanwhile abandoned the elderly to isolation and neglect.
